Category: Front page

Abstract The international consensus in support of universal health coverage (UHC), though commendable, thus far lacks a clear mechanism to finance and deliver accessible and effective basic healthcare to the two billion rural residents and informal workers of low- and lower-middle-income countries (LLMICs). Importantly, the two preferred financing modes for UHC, general tax revenue and social health insurance, are often infeasible for LLMICs. We identify from historical examples a community-based model that…

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In collaboration with Professor Yali Cong from the Peking University, the Harvard China Health Partnership held a conference on Medical Ethics and Professionalism in Beijing from October 21-22, 2023. Over ninety healthcare experts, policymakers, and physicians from China’s leading research institutions and hospitals were in attendance to discuss eight topics regarding medical ethics and physician professionalism. As China continues to make strides in expanding coverage of its healthcare services nationwide, the…

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Abstract The burden of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continues to increase in developing countries like China, but the access to STI care is often limited. The emergence of direct-to-consumer (DTC) telemedicine offers unique opportunities for patients to directly access health services when needed; However, the quality of STI care provided by telemedicine platforms remains unknown. After systemically identifying the universe of DTC telemedicine platforms providing on-demand consultations in China in…

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Abstract Primary health care (PHC) is the most effective way to improve people’s health and well-being, and primary care services should act as the cornerstone of a resilient health system and the foundation of universal health coverage. To promote high quality development of PHC, an International Symposium on Quality Primary Health Care Development was held on December 4–5, 2023 in Beijing, China, and the participants have proposed and advocated the…

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Abstract This report analyses the underlying causes of China’s achievements and gaps in universal health coverage over the past 2 decades and proposes policy recommendations for advancing universal health coverage by 2030. Although strong political commitment and targeted financial investment have produced positive outcomes in reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health and infectious diseases, a fragmented and hospital-centric delivery system, rising health-care costs, shallow benefit coverage of health insurance schemes, and…

Continue reading “New Publication: Universal health coverage in China part 2: addressing challenges and recommendations”

Abstract Over the past 2 decades, China has made remarkable progress in health-care service coverage, especially in the areas of reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health, infectious diseases, and service capacity and access. In these areas, coverage is comparable to those in high-income countries. Inequalities of service coverage in these areas have been reduced. However, there remain large gaps in the service coverage of chronic diseases. There has been little progress…

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Abstract Online health care marketplaces have emerged with the adoption of telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite its readily available information on price and quality, we document substantial price dispersion for telemedicine services in China’s internet health market. We further examine the sources of such price variation: observable characteristics of physicians, hospitals, and local markets explain slightly over half of this variation. The un-explained portion is greater for physician specialties where…

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